Research
Excellence with purpose: Our expert academics, teamed with the next generation of scientific leaders, produce some of the world’s best fundamental and applied chemistry.*
Established ground-breakers and highly talented early-career researchers unite to deliver internationally excellent and world-class research across chemical science. Through close collaboration with the wider STEM community, our fundamental chemistry challenges the frontiers of knowledge for tomorrow.
Impactful research tackles the issues of today. Ambitious entrepreneurism and effective routes to real-world application ensures benefits to academia, industry, and society. Coupled with ongoing investment into state-of-the art facilities and infrastructure, we sit firmly at the forefront of science in the UK and beyond, both now and in the future as we grow to meet the rising demands for flexible, world-class research.
Our research themes
Chemical, Structural and Synthetic Biology
Developing highly interdisciplinary molecular and analytical approaches to understanding and exploiting biological systems for drug discovery, food security, sustainable chemicals and industrial biotechnology.
Latest news
Matt Jenner wins £1.25 million UKRI Future Leaders Funding
Production Polysaccharides at the Cell Surface
Materials and Polymers
From solid-state inorganic materials to soft matter, real-world applications span catalysis, photovoltaics, ferroelectrics, petroadditives for cleaner fuel, personal care and medicine.
Latest news
World-class centre for single electron diffraction a UK first
New Method to Cryopreserve 3D Tissue Models
New technology puts deodorants to the test
Measurement and Modelling
Original experimental measurements, theory and simulations underpin advances in electrochemistry, mass spectrometry, spectroscopy, surface analysis and computational chemistry.
Latest news
Prof Julie MacPherson supports Royal Society diversity drive
Lindau Nobel 2022 Success for Dr Julia Westermayr
Production Polysaccharides at the Cell Surface
Synthesis and Catalysis
Innovative molecular design and advanced synthetic methodology reinforces multi-disciplinary research addressing grand challenges around energy, health and materials.
Latest news
Insights into the properties of metal-oxo clusters
Prof Peter Sadler wins Royal Society’s prestigious Davy Medal
Making oxygen with magnets for astronauts
Further information
Featured Publications
Two articles investigating the structure and photochemistry of metal-oxo clusters have been recently published by the Pike group. Read in Chemical ScienceLink opens in a new window and Chemical CommunicationsLink opens in a new window.
*Accoring to THE anaylsis of REF 2021, we are ranked 9th for Research Power amongst UK Chemistry Departments and all of our assessed reserach outputs and impact case studies are world-leading or internationally excellent.